Agriculture experts have called for the digitisation of village-based agent services to increase efficiency in the delivery of extension services.

The call stems from findings by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa that in Africa, there is an inefficient extension system that is why one extension officer takes care of almost 5000 to 1000 farmers. Such a number leads to delays in access to quality and timely agro-inputs and services in addition to markets.

During a Webinar on Transforming Agriculture in Africa through Last Mile Digitalisation, Qureish Noordin, a programme officer at AGRA explained that the village-based agent modal is a private sector-led extension approach through village-based advisors.

Youth village agents prepare to distribute maize seed in Luwero 

Unlike community voluntary extension workers, who stop work once funding stops, VBAs earn a commission from every service offered on behalf of suppliers of various services and products to farmers.

“In our case, the VBA are safe and trusted community members who offer information for free but make money through the services they offer by being agents of agro-dealers, input companies, and some have gone into aggregation and marketing,” he explained.

He adds that although they currently work with over 35,000 VBAs in 9 countries reaching 11million farmers, the challenge is that most of their activities are manual.

"Most of the VBAs are not digitalised so they do lots of paperwork. For example, one VBA works closely with 200 farmers, recording manually on books so it becomes cumbersome, if this VBA is to aggregate demand, send to an input company or agro dealer for supply, it will take longer,” said Noordin.

But when helped to go digital, access to updated content, accurate information as opposed to generic information currently, and timely access of inputs needed by farmers, he added.

Where has it worked

Noordin gave an example of Kiambu in Kenya, where VBA’s that have gone digital are now very specific when demanding specific seeds, fertilizers with the help of animated videos, and are now linking to more service providers.

Besides with digitisation, more youth especially females, who find it hard to take part in the agriculture value chain due to reasons ranging from culture to lack of land can now participate using digital means, he added.

In Northern Nigeria where there were challenges of women participating in the production, they are now able to venture into the market, through digitalization, they can link up with aggregation centers, Noordin added.

For the above to work, Brenda Gunde, Global Senior Technical Specialist at ICT4D called on stakeholders to look out for digital solutions that will get all VBA services and solutions in one space for efficiency.

Call for support from government

However, for above to be achieved, there is need for government intervention, to invest in digital infrastructure so that accurate information can reach farmers through digital means according to AGRA’s Vice President in charge of Strategic Partnerships, Vanessa Adams.

She explained that although there are partnerships in the private sector offering solutions to digital challenges in the agriculture space, there is need for government investment in digital infrastructure.

“Each of our governments should have digitals strategies supporting their own infrastructure improvements as well as using digital solutions to reach last mile,” said Adams

She adds that in the last few years, there have been digital solutions like e voucher, digital seed traceability, seed certification, subsidy, export quality verification, which are all private sector led.

“So, we are pleased as AGRA to make the last call to countries to move together using technology to deliver on sustainable development of the 2030 agenda and sustainable development goals, “she added.

Ongoing efforts by government to digitise agriculture

Some of the initiative by government to digitise agriculture is through the e- voucher system, that is helping farmers access agro inputs like seed, fertilizers, extension services among others through digital means.

 This is being carried out through the Agriculture Cluster Development Project funded by the World bank, through the ministry of agriculture animal industry and fisheries.